Poet, Teacher, Writer, Editor

     Welcome to my web site.  In various capacities, I'm a poet, teacher, writer, and editor based in western Wisconsin near the Twin Cities.  My work is strongly rooted here, so in my poems you'll meet some of the people, animals, birds, flowers, and trees I encounter day to day, not least the wonderfully named kinnickinnic, or red osier dogwood or red willow, so plentiful in these parts.  I like the symbolism of kinnickinnic, so ready to root from a cutting that the Indians saw it as an emblem of resurrection.

     I've kept this site simple for easy navigation.  "About" will fill you in on a little biographical background.  "Poems" showcases a few poems with which I've been particularly happy over the years.  I'm using the "Blog" section to air occasional essays on literature, culture, and current affairs.  "Publications" provides a brief bibliography of my published work.  "Contact" tells you how to get in touch with me.  (I always welcome comments by readers, not to mention invitations to read or teach.)  And this home page does double duty as a calendar for upcoming events.  I hope you'll have as enjoyable a time glancing around this site as I've had putting it together. 


    CALENDAR

Teaching:  This winter/spring term at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis I'm offering two 12-week poetry classes:

Form and Imagination (S125):  This class approaches poetry through formal strategies, to tap new expressive capacities and bring neglected aspects of our experience  or personality into our work.  Tuesdays, January 26 - April 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

The Power of the Image (S128):  In this class we'll explore the ways in which the image has periodically revitalized world poetry and in weekly exercises invite its enlivening and unpredictable energies into our poetry.  Thursdays, January 28 - April 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

For more information check out the Loft web site at www.loft.org, or call 612/379-8999.

Coming Up Soon:  My new book of poems, The Foot of the Rainbow, will be released this spring by Red Dragonfly Press.  Watch this site for publication readings and events.